Wow, what a couple of days! Ok, a bit of a slacker on day 6, but let's pick up and continue this whole thought of prayer. I would like to start with reminding all of us that we have called a corporate day of fasting and prayer on each Wednesday during Lent. I do hope you have been reading and have begun to understand fasting and are planning on joining us for this time of prayer. The churches chapel will be open from 6am - 9pm as a place for you to land at some point during the day to escape and spend some quiet time.
If your anything like me, life is so chaotic! From the time I roll out of the bed until I jump back in nothing seems to slow down. With carting the kids all over town, ministry meetings, work, time with family, hours at the ball fields, etc., etc., and you know what I mean. What happens at the end of many days as I lay my head down on the pillow is remember that I haven't had any time with the Lord that day. I know that's why Jesus taught many times for us to be intentional about our daily time with the Father. It is like the saying, "If you fail to plan, you plan to fail." If your not strategic in your daily walk and what that looks like as to when we spend time with God most likely we will fail.
Early in Marks Gospel in chapter one we see the following account: " 35Very early in the morning, while it was still dark, Jesus got up, left the house and went off to a solitary place, where he prayed." There are several contextual things you need to understand about this narrative. First, lets just take the verse at face value.
So, He finds himself in one of these moments in Mark the first chapter. All these event happened as was stated and at the end of that day Jesus laid his head down in Simon and Andrew's house for a necessary night of snoozing. And we should be surprised at what happens next....."Very early in the morning, while it was still dark, Jesus got up, left the house and went off to a solitary place, where he prayed."
Wow, are you kidding me! After all the He had done over the course of the previous day, could he not sleep in for a while and rest for the unknown of the new day? Well, that just was'nt in his tool bag. Jesus lived His waking and probably his seeping hours in intentional and calculated moments. HE knew what all would transpire for Him to fulfill the purpose of His sending, but He even knew more well what it would have to take to get to that place. I can hear Jesus shouting out to God "At All Costs" as what could have been his mantra (my interpretation of course).
The narrative above really tells the story. Listen, life never slows down and for the most part the pace continues to get faster. Despite these fact, we should get up out of bed the next day and find a silent and solitude place where you can pray. So, when it all seem to be overwhelming apply this principle of prayer and grow in those intimate quiet places with the Lord.
Psalm 46:10
10 "Be still, and know that I am God"
If your anything like me, life is so chaotic! From the time I roll out of the bed until I jump back in nothing seems to slow down. With carting the kids all over town, ministry meetings, work, time with family, hours at the ball fields, etc., etc., and you know what I mean. What happens at the end of many days as I lay my head down on the pillow is remember that I haven't had any time with the Lord that day. I know that's why Jesus taught many times for us to be intentional about our daily time with the Father. It is like the saying, "If you fail to plan, you plan to fail." If your not strategic in your daily walk and what that looks like as to when we spend time with God most likely we will fail.
Early in Marks Gospel in chapter one we see the following account: " 35Very early in the morning, while it was still dark, Jesus got up, left the house and went off to a solitary place, where he prayed." There are several contextual things you need to understand about this narrative. First, lets just take the verse at face value.
- It was "very early" in the morning....I mean it was still dark. That time of the day doesn't thrill me at all!
- Jesus got up
- He left the house and presumably left the disciples sleeping like usual
- He found a solitary and secluded place to pray
So, He finds himself in one of these moments in Mark the first chapter. All these event happened as was stated and at the end of that day Jesus laid his head down in Simon and Andrew's house for a necessary night of snoozing. And we should be surprised at what happens next....."Very early in the morning, while it was still dark, Jesus got up, left the house and went off to a solitary place, where he prayed."
Wow, are you kidding me! After all the He had done over the course of the previous day, could he not sleep in for a while and rest for the unknown of the new day? Well, that just was'nt in his tool bag. Jesus lived His waking and probably his seeping hours in intentional and calculated moments. HE knew what all would transpire for Him to fulfill the purpose of His sending, but He even knew more well what it would have to take to get to that place. I can hear Jesus shouting out to God "At All Costs" as what could have been his mantra (my interpretation of course).
The narrative above really tells the story. Listen, life never slows down and for the most part the pace continues to get faster. Despite these fact, we should get up out of bed the next day and find a silent and solitude place where you can pray. So, when it all seem to be overwhelming apply this principle of prayer and grow in those intimate quiet places with the Lord.
Psalm 46:10
10 "Be still, and know that I am God"
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